Was Jesus crucified?
Crucifixion: what do the Qur'an and the Bible say?
Chapters
If you’ve ever asked this question, you are probably asking about two things at once. First, you might ask, was Jesus executed on a cross? This is an historical question. Secondly, you might ask, was there a meaning or purpose in what happened to Jesus? This is a theological question. Both questions deserve our attention.
Jesus’ crucifixion has long divided opinion. For Christians, it’s an historical event, and an important and necessary part of Jesus’ earthly ministry. Christians see Jesus’ death on the cross as an act of atoning sacrifice ‘for our sins’. It brings forgiveness to all who trust Jesus and ‘repent’, turning away from our sinful paths.
However, for many Muslims the very idea that Jesus was crucified and died ‘for our sins’ is scandalous and offensive. It is rejected both as an historical event and a theological one. After all, why would Allah allow his prophet to die on a cross in this dishonourable way? Is Allah not mighty to forgive sins of mankind by simply saying ‘you’re forgiven’?
One Qur’anic passage specifically mentions Jesus’ crucifixion – and it swiftly rejects the suggestion that Jesus was killed or crucified.{1} Other early Islamic sources are silent on the subject. Over the centuries, two main schools of Islamic belief have emerged:
- Sunni Muslims tend to believe Jesus was substituted for another person at the cross. This is known as Substitution Theory.
- Others, including the Ahmadiyya sect, say Jesus was hung on a cross, but only fainted and did not die as a result of his injuries. This is known as Swoon Theory.{2}
Whatever you think, this booklet invites you to examine the evidence. Why do Christians believe the crucifixion story? Where did it come from? And how does it connect with Jesus’ life and message?
We’ll explore Christian and Muslim accounts of what could have happened to Jesus. Together, we’ll evaluate:
- Was Jesus crucified on a cross?
- Was Jesus substituted? Did someone else die in his place?
- Did Jesus only faint (swoon) on the cross?
Let’s begin by looking at different views about what happened to Jesus.